The road to '09: Tennessee Titans

1. Is this clearly Kerry Collins’ football team?

In my opinion, without a doubt — Collins is the guy in Nashville.

APCan Collins get the Titans back to the playoffs?

Despite the attention being paid to former top-five pick Vince Young, Collins has handled himself professionally since he’s been under center for the Titans, and we tend to forget that he was one of the main reasons the Titans won the AFC South last season.

Beyond the fact that I respect every decision head coach Jeff Fisher makes for this franchise, Collins is just a better option for the team — and its vertical passing game. Throw in the fact that Tennessee added some weapons at wide receiver, and I expect Collins to have another solid year as the Titans’ starting quarterback.

We all know that Young possesses some very unique athletic skills when it comes to the game of football, but in the NFL, the quarterback position is centered on maturity, poise and an ability to handle every form of adversity. QBs are looked to in the huddle for answers and are counted on to lead their teams for 16 weeks. Young, as special as some may think he is, just isn’t ready for that from a leadership standpoint.

2. Should we make a big deal about the absence of Albert Haynesworth?

Not as much as the media — or the size of Haynesworth’s new contract in Washington -- tells us to.

I agree that Haynesworth is a big-time talent in the interior of the defensive line, but don’t be fooled by the dollar signs because this defense isn’t judged on one player. Yes, the Titans have to expect another solid year from DT Tony Brown, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch needs to stay healthy, and production will be expected from DE Jevon Kearse. One thing the Titans have is depth, and since every team uses a rotation system to keep its front four fresh, this isn’t that big of a loss for Tennessee. And don’t kid yourselves, as productive as Haynesworth was, he could have been better, because if you watch the tape, the effort wasn’t always there.

Plus, the Titans had 20 interceptions, 44 quarterback sacks and ended the regular season with a turnover ratio of plus-14 — something that wins football games. I love their secondary, Keith Bulluck is still the leader of the defense and they are still a tough match-up for anyone — as a unit, they gave up 15 points a game last season.

3. Did the Titans make improvements at wide receiver?

APFree agent acquisition Nate Washington

I think the move to bring in Nate Washington from Pittsburgh and using a draft pick on Kenny Britt from Rutgers will pay dividends for this team. Justin Gage and his 19-yard-per-catch average and six touchdowns return as does TE Bo Scaife, who led the Titans in receptions last season with 58.

Suddenly, this team, built on defense and handoffs to RBs Chris Johnson and LenDale White, now looks like it has multiple weapons for Collins to use at his disposal. I like the combo of Collins and Gage because, despite the negatives you might think Collins possesses as a QB, you can’t doubt his arm strength. Washington has the ability to develop into a true No. 1 target, and as long as Collins can use his other weapons successfully, the Titans can gradually bring along Britt as he begins to learn the pro game — something that’s key for every rookie WR.

Yes, the Titans can win football games like they did in ’08, but this looks like a more complete offense from my perspective. Plenty of weapons in both the run and the pass game coming in ’09.

4. Can we expect the same dominant play from the O-Line?

The offensive line on any club is usually overlooked when we check the stat column on Sunday night, but two stats that can tell you everything about an offensive line are the number of sacks allowed in a season and the amount of yards a team runs for every week.

APPro Bowl center Kevin Mawae

The Titans allowed 12 sacks in 2008. That’s it, folks. A truly unbelievable number that can be attributed to the front five and the ability of Collins to get rid of the football. When we talk about leadership at the quarterback position, we can’t forget to mention what center Kevin Mawae brings to this team as a veteran who plays hurt and plays through adversity. He’s a guy you want on your football team.

In ’08, the Titans rushed for over 137 yards a game, and I expect much of the same this season. Johnson has the speed and the burst from the running back position to hit the hole and get to the second level quickly. Any time you have a back like Johnson and his ability to make a man miss and get into the open field, the offensive line is the key — give him a crease and let him make a play. I expect more of the same this year because, despite the weapons they added on the outside, the Titans will win in the fourth quarter with their ability to run the ball, protect a lead and grind out a victory.

5. Can the Titans repeat as AFC South champs?

I don’t see any reason they won’t be in the race for the division in December, but we also have to realize that the AFC South is quickly becoming one of the better overall divisions in the NFL.

APHead coach Jeff Fisher

The Titans will have to get through Indy again, and the both the Texans and Jags will be better overall football teams in ’09, but I will never doubt a team coached by Fisher.

As long as this team continues to avoid drama off the field and stays focused on what wins games — protecting the football, running the football and attacking the football on defense — I don’t see any reason why this entire division won’t come down to the one or two games in December. This is a very good team that plays with sound fundamentals and an emphasis on technique — and as long as Collins and Bulluck continue to lead their respective units, they’ll be competitive.

The Draft

Wes Bunting, our resident draft expert, breaks down some notable picks from this past April.

Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Britt gives the Titans the type of potential No. 1 receiving option the team has been in search of for years. He’s a big, physical wideout who does a nice job high-pointing the football and is a load to bring down after the catch. He lacks ideal deep speed but has the size and strength to beat press coverage at the next level and should mature into a productive NFL receiver.

Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina

Cook is an ideal fit in the Titans’ passing attack and was a great value in round No. 3. He possesses the vertical speed to consistently get down the seam and knows how to make plays after the catch. He isn't much of a blocker, but the Titans can motion him around and create a lot of mismatches against opposing defenses.

Ryan Durand, OG, Syracuse

Durand didn't receive much attention while at Syracuse, but this athletic guard prospect is an ideal fit for what the Titans want to do up front. He displays smooth footwork, good coordination and is agile getting to the second level as a run blocker. A nice late-round developmental guy who could pay big dividends down the road.

Next: Indianapolis Colts

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